Nguyen Tuan Anh is the second Hoang Anh Gia Lai player to go abroad to play for a foreign team. — Photo sggp.org.vn

HA NOI (VNS) — Hoang Anh Gia Lai have agreed to let their best midfielder Nguyen Tuan Anh play for Japan's Yokohama for a year, following a loan contract.

The V-League side did not reveal more information about the deal, but said the future of the player would be decided following his performance at the J.League 2 club.

"Tuan Anh is the most important player in Hoang Anh Gia Lai. Without him, we will face many difficulties," Doan Nguyen Duc, the owner of Hoang Anh Gia Lai, said.

"We appreciate Yokohama's attention to my player. A chance to compete in Japan will raise his skills to a better level as football in that country is professional and suited to developing his abilities," Duc said.

Yokohama currently have 45 points and are ranked 17th. Anh will be the youngest player of the club, which has 33 players, including five foreigners.

Anh was the Viet Nam Football Federation's best young player in 2014. The 20-year-old, voted Hoang Anh Gia Lai's best player this season, can play in different positions and work well with different partners.

Anh trained with Olympiakos in 2012 and nearly signed a contract with the team, but a knee injury stopped him from joining.

Before Anh, his teammate Nguyen Cong Phuong had agreed to play for Mito Hollyhock, who also compete in the J.League 2.

Anh, Phuong and Hoang Anh Gia Lai representatives will fly to Japan on October 30 to discuss more details with the two clubs.

They will return on November 3 to participate in the International U21 Football Tournament to be held later in HCM City.

Anh and Phuong are first two players of the Hoang Anh Gia Lai JMG-Arsenal Academy to be sent abroad to play for foreign teams. — VNS